DREAMKILLERDREAMKILLER
Real Name: Alex Tennyson
Identity/Class: Human magic user/astral being
Occupation: Manager of Mushrooms Occult
Suppliers
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Allegra Bazin, Adam
Tennyson;
formerly Damek the
Earth-Shaker
Enemies: Craig
Blenholt, Elaine
Tennyson Blenholt, Chester,
Damek the Earth-Shaker, Darkhawk (Chris Powell), NYPD, Vault Guardsmen
Known Relatives: Adam Tennyson (son), Elaine
Tennyson Blenholt (ex-wife), Damek the Earth-Shaker (unspecified future
descendant)
Aliases: "The Destroyer of All That is Good," "Killer," "the Murderer of Wishes, Prayers and Love," "the Shatterer of Hope"
Base of Operations: Soho, New York, USA
First Appearance: Darkhawk I Annual#2 (1993)
Powers/Abilities: Alex Tennyson possessed the mystic Object of Power, which he learned to use to project an astral aspect of his own personality in the form of the Dreamkiller. While the Dreamkiller existed separately from Tennyson, Tennyson could direct the Dreamkiller's actions and could also see, hear and feel whatever the Dreamkiller experienced. Tennyson could also use the Object of Power to reabsorb the Dreamkiller back into his physical body.
The Dreamkiller aspect itself existed in incorporeal
form, allowing it to phase through solid matter at will and move across
the air as if weightless. If so desired, the Dreamkiller could also
assume a solid form with which to interact with the physical world. In
his solid form, the Dreamkiller possessed superhuman strength
sufficient to easily smash through a thick metal door that was bolted
shut and durability sufficient to withstand energy blasts from the
armored Darkhawk and survive crashing through a building. Dreamkiller
could also project an unidentified (possibly magical) energy from his
fingertips that could harm even armored opponents.
Height: (as Tennyson): 5'1" (by
approximation); (as Dreamkiller): 6'6"
Weight: (as Tennyson): 123 lbs. (by approximation); (as
Dreamkiller): Variable (400 lbs. in solid form)
Eyes: Brown; (as Dreamkiller): Red
Hair: (in both forms): Black
History: (Darkhawk I
Annual#2 (fb)) - Alex Tennyson was the manager of the Mushrooms Occult
Supplier store and intensely studied the works of mystics Doctor
Strange and Baron Mordo. When his obsession with literature about
Strange and Mordo jeopardized his job, Tennyson took out his
frustrations on his wife Elaine, beating her. His act witnessed by his
son Adam, Alex left his family behind, feeling as if the world of
mortal concerns was too small for him and that he needed more out of
life. Soon learning that Philippe Bazin had died, Tennyson hoped to
access Bazin's collection of mystic artifacts and when he saw Harley
Stevens transformed by the Object of Power on the news, Tennyson
decided he needed to somehow acquire the Object of Power for himself.
Learning that the Object of Power were never found following Stevens'
battle with Darkhawk and Ghost Rider, Tennyson attempted to find the
man who had found the Object of Power while his wife Elaine ultimately
traveled to Mexico, divorced him and subsequently married Craig
Blenholt, convincing the courts that Tennyson's son Adam would have a
better life with Craig and herself. Focusing only on obtaining the
power he sought, Tennyson ignored Elaine's life and placed flyers
around the local mall seeking to find the person who had the Object of
Power. Soon hearing from Chester, the man who had found the Object of
Power, Tennyson met with Chester and offered three thousand dollars for
the Object of Power but when Chester wanted more, Tennyson grabbed the
Object of Power from Chester's hands and bludgeoned Chester with it.
Realizing he had accidentally killed Chester, Tennyson felt extreme
guilt and attempted to phone his son to assure Adam they would be
together soon but Craig Blenholt answered and told Tennyson that
neither Elaine nor Adam wanted to speak to him. Feeling as if Blenholt
was keeping his family from him, Tennyson took to using his occult
knowledge to research and bombard the Object the Power with all sorts
of energy wavelengths, focusing on a being of power unlike the
monstrous form Harley Stevens had once assumed. Eventually, Tennyson's
work paid off and he managed to release an aspect of himself in astral
form as the Dreamkiller. Tennyson then accompanied his Dreamkiller
aspect to an empty lot of land, where Dreamkiller displayed his power
to Tennyson. Tennyson quickly realized that he could now kill his
enemies without worry, as Dreamkiller could do the killing for him, and
he began to work towards getting what he wanted out of life. Wishing to
acquire Philippe Bazin's mystic artifacts, Alex Tennyson phoned Bazin's
daughter Allegra and feigned an interest in selling the Object of Power
back to Bazin.
(Darkhawk I Annual#2) - Holding
the Object of Power, Alex Tennyson announced that it was time for
vengeance and released the Dreamkiller. Tennyson reminded Dreamkiller
of what he needed to do and Dreamkiller responded that he knew what to
do, as they were both aspects of the same being. Dreamkiller then flew
to Soho, where he evaded the security systems of Craig Blenholt due to
his incorporeal form before solidifying to smash down Blenholt's heavy
security door. Announcing himself to the shocked Blenholt as the
Shatterer of Hope, Destroyer of All That is Good and the Murderer of
Wishes, Prayers and Love, Dreamkiller smashed Blenholt's bed while
exclaiming his intentions to kill both Blenholt's dreams and Blenholt
himself. Tennyson monitored events through his Dreamkiller aspect's
eyes but when Tennyson's son Adam, awoken by the commotion, entered the
room, Dreamkiller halted his attack and apologized to Adam before
transforming into incorporeal form and flying off into the night,
hoping to find something else to vent its rage on. Eventually,
Dreamkiller came into conflict with the NYPD and a SWAT unit was called
in but Dreamkiller easily fought the police, the attack soon making the
local news. While meeting with Allegra Bazin about Allegra's fears of
the man offering to sell her the Object of Power, Chris Powell saw a
news report on Dreamkiller's attack and recognized the Object of Power
on Dreamkiller's belt. Quickly exiting, Powell activated his amulet to
transform into Darkhawk and go after Dreamkiller, soon finding him in
Soho, still battling the police. Noticing that some of the police on
the ground looked dead, Darkhawk ordered Dreamkiller to halt his attack
and blasted him with energy from his amulet, only to have Dreamkiller
laugh that the attack tickled before walking on air to Darkhawk and
punching him. Darkhawk used his grappling hook to swing with the
momentum from Dreamkiller's punch but Dreamkiller fired a blast of
energy from his fingertips, hitting Darkhawk before slamming Darkhawk
into the ground. Feeling as if his rage and shame had been vented,
Dreamkiller decided to depart, dissipating back into Alex Tennyson's
body as Darkhawk was left wondering what had happened. Tennyson then
phoned Allegra Bazin again and demanded to have all of Philippe Bazin's
objects of power, prompting Allegra to inform Chris Powell about the
phone call. Chris subsequently visited Mushrooms Occult Supplier based
on a tip from Allegra and the owner informed Chris that Alex Tennyson
was due to start work when the store opened. When Tennyson arrived for
work, Chris confronted him as Darkhawk and asked what Tennyson knew
about the Dreamkiller, prompting Tennyson to release the Dreamkiller
against the hero. A fierce fight ensured with Darkhawk getting pummeled
but Darkhawk soon realized that Dreamkiller needed direction from
Tennyson and took him hostage, warning Dreamkiller to cease his attack
or risk Tennyson's life. Unfortunately, the nearby police recognized
Dreamkiller from his earlier attack on the police and fired tear gas,
distracting Darkhawk while Dreamkiller rescued Tennyson and flew off,
gloating at how Darkhawk had lost his trump card. Chris Powell then
returned to the Elmhurst Hotel where his family was staying and thought
about what he should do about Dreamkiller.
(Darkhawk I Annual#3 (fb) - BTS) - Craig Blenholt moved
Elaine and Adam out of the city before Dreamkiller could further even
the score between Tennyson and Blenholt.
(Darkhawk I Annual#3) - Dreamkiller battled the
Darkhawk (at that point split as a separate being from Chris Powell) in
Manhattan, where Darkhawk blasted Dreamkiller with energy from his
amulet, briefly hurting Dreamkiller. Dreamkiller responded by leaping
onto Darkhawk and crashing him through the Marcy's Bargain Basement
store. Darkhawk soon managed to materialize a gun, which he used to
blast a hole in a nearby pipe, releasing water that hit exposed wires
to electrocute Dreamkiller. Upon Dreamkiller's defeat, Darkhawk was met
by a squad of Vault Guardsmen, who apprehended Dreamkiller in an
energy-charged cage designed to keep him from returning to Alex
Tennyson's body. En route to the Vault, Dreamkiller's transport vehicle
was torn apart by Damek the Earth-Shaker, freeing Dreamkiller, who
reluctantly decided to work with Damek to avenge his defeat by
Darkhawk. As they departed, Dreamkiller mentioned that he needed to
stop and even the score between Alex Tennyson and Craig Blenholt by
attacking Blenholt's family before the two villains went after Darkhawk
but Darkhawk interrupted the conversation, having found them first.
Dreamkiller quickly punched Darkhawk, who activated his armor's stealth
mode, confusing both Dreamkiller and Damek. Dreamkiller quickly decided
to force Darkhawk to reveal himself by taking the nearby Chris Powell
hostage, forcing Damek to blast Dreamkiller to save Powell. Admitting
that he had been taught in the future that his ancestor Dreamkiller was
a hero but he had seen only bloodlust and rage, Damek then placed
Powell out of harm's way before teaming up with Darkhawk against
Dreamkiller. Once Dreamkiller was knocked unconscious, Alex Tennyson
revealed himself by calling out in anger. Tennyson then tried to run
for it but Darkhawk grasped Tennyson's leg with his grappling hook,
causing Tennyson to trip and drop the Object of Power. Damek then took
the Object of Power from Tennyson, who was arrested by the arriving
police. The police assured Darkhawk that a containment truck was en
route to handle Dreamkiller and Darkhawk turned the Object of Power
over the police, warning them to keep it away from Tennyson and
Dreamkiller.
Comments: Created by Danny Fingeroth, Aaron Lopresti, Andy Mushynsky and Don Hudson.
Craig Blenholt is called Victor by the Dreamkiller once in Darkhawk I Annual#2.
Dreamkiller
was one of several new characters to debut in Marvel's 1993 Annuals.
Each of these characters received a special edition trading card that
was polybagged in with the issue. Dreamkiller's card can be seen to the
left here.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Dreamkiller has no known connections to:
Craig Blenholt was a man who wooed Elaine Tennyson with his charm and the two were soon married. The two filed for full custody of Elaine's son Adam, angering Adam's father Alex, who felt as if Craig was keeping him from his family. After learning how to release his Dreamkiller aspect, Tennyson sent Dreamkiller to kill Craig, who was saved when Adam arrived and witnessed Dreamkiller, recognizing Dreamkiller's voice as his father's. Following this encounter, Craig moved his family out of the city but Dreamkiller nonetheless continued to plot his revenge against Blenholt.
Elaine Tennyson Blenholt was the ex-wife of Alex Tennyson. During a particularly bad day at work, Alex Tennyson returned home and took his frustrations out on Elaine, beating her until their son Adam witnessed the events, prompting Alex to leave his family. In time, Elaine traveled to Mexico, where she filed for divorce against Alex. Returning to the United States, Elaine met Craig Blenholt and got remarried, filing for full custody of Adam. Elaine later moved out of the city with Craig and Adam following Dreamkiller's attack on Craig.
--Darkhawk I Annual#2 (Annual#3 - BTS,
Chester was a man who acquired the Object of Power following Harley Stevens' usage of the mystic artifact. When he saw a flyer asking about the artifact, Chester phoned Alex Tennyson and the two agreed to meet, where Alex offered three thousand dollars to Chester for the Object of Power. When Chester tried to get more money, Alex grabbed the Object from Chester and bludgeoned him with it, accidentally killing Chester.
Adam Tennyson was the son of Alex Tennyson who witnessed Alex's abuse of Elaine. After Elaine divorced Alex and later married Craig Blenholt, full custody of Adam was given to Elaine and Craig treated Adam like his own son. When Alex learned how to release his Dreamkiller aspect, he sent Dreamkiller to kill Craig but the commotion of the attack woke up Adam, who recognized his father's voice emanating from Dreamkiller. Feeling as if Adam had suffered enough at his actions, Alex ordered Dreamkiller to return and Dreamkiller shamefully apologized to Adam for the attack. Adam was later moved out of the city with Craig to escape Dreamkiller.
images: (without ads)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p6, pan3 (Dreamkiller, main image)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p8, pan2 (Dreamkiller, headshot)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p4, pan2 (Alex Tennyson holding the Object of Power)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p4, pan3 (Alex releasing his Dreamkiller aspect)
Darkhawk I Annual#3, p6, pan4 (Dreamkiller blasted by Darkhawk)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p17, pan4 (Craig Blenholt)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p17, pan5 (Elaine Tennyson Blenholt)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p18, pan9 (Chester)
Darkhawk I Annual#2, p8, pan1 (Adam Tennyson)
Appearances:
Darkhawk I Annual#2 (1993) - "Dreamkiller" story - Danny Fingeroth
(writer), Aaron Lopresti (pencils), Andy Mushynsky, Don Hudson (inks),
Nel Yomtov (editor);
Darkhawk I Annual#3 (1994) - "Future Shock" story - Danny Fingeroth
(writer), Steve Ellis (pencils), Andy Lanning (inks), Nel Yomtov (group
editor)
First Posted: 03/05/2019
Last updated: 07/07/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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